I suppose the answer must be that those paltry few thousands who pay cover the costs.

Surely that business model has no longevity built into it as the numbers will always surely fall?

Because FOMs only goal is to maximise short term profits for its investors who don't give two hoots about what happens in 5-10 years time because they'll have taken that money and moved on to invest it in something else.

After (Once again.) quite a long search, I managed to find out some more, but only as for now the pending ratings for some of the missing BBC Grand Prix races from the years of 1992-1995.

Here they come and these ratings are quite high and I'm not sure about them, but they could be at least closer to the truth than before because these following races were shown in BBC1 instead rather than in BBC2 and some races will stay as them were before:

1992

Magny-Cours: 6 million (Another rating was 5,45 million viewers.)

1993

Monaco: 4,5 million (Another rating was 4,25 million viewers.)

Magny-Cours: 4 million (Another rating was a bit under of 4 million viewers, 3,95 million to be exact, but I also managed to find out that there was a another rating of 4,86 million.)

Estoril: 5,49 million (Another rating was exactly 5 million viewers, another was a bit under of 5 million viewers, 4,95 million to be exact, but I also managed to find out that there was a another rating of 4,75 million. Highest peak number of viewers was told to be around region of 6 million viewers which is a very big rating for a 1993 season race.)

1994

Magny-Cours: 4,1 million (Another rating was under 3,5 million viewers, but there was also a better one new rating of 3,75 million.)

1995

Hungaroring: 4,25 million (Another rating was 3,78 million viewers.)

PS. This message has been written for notification purposes. I will update the following information on a part 18 of this topic which contains that very big amount of ratings from the years of 1992-2006 up from this particular notification message when this information is confirmed to be real thing. I will also modify this message, if my current ratings for these BBC1 races are incorrect.

I might have also found out some estimates for the possible ratings of Nigel Mansell's Indycar on ITV (Otherwise known as Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 93' or 94' depending on year.) in these past few days when trying to find out those old BBC Grand Prix ratings from the years of 1992-1995.

They were actually quite evenly matched up against F1 ratings on BBC during those years of 1993-1994.

Some times they might have been even more watched than F1 races.

Especially in season 1993, if not even at least a part of the 1994 season too.

They never were any of the Top 30 list, but still might have had quite a big ratings on their time.

Especially when they were broadcasted after the middle of the day nearing any where from 12-16 o' clock.

I'll sort them out within the couple of days and if I'm in luck, I'll might be able to have checked them by tomorrow evening.

After quite a long time and also with a big dissapointment of false ratings about F1 Qualifying ratings from the past there was a one new real Qualifying rating for ITV and for the 1998 season.

It was from the 1998 Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying and it had 1,8 million viewers.

I will update it shortly.

PS. This message has been written for notification purposes. I will update the following information on a part 18 of this topic which contains variable amount of F1 Qualifying ratings from the years of 1996-1998 up from this particular notification message.

After quite of a search, I managed to find some missing figures from the F1 Season 2000.

These two following figures are Re-run figures from the Australian Grand Prix and Malaysian Grand Prix.

Even though the latter mentioned race Re-run from Sepang is moderately speaking a uncertain one sadly and there was no mention about Japanese Grand Prix race Re-run figures.

I will list them below:

2000 Australian Grand Prix

Grand Prix Race Re-run: 2,94 million

2000 Malaysian Grand Prix

Grand Prix Race Re-run: 1,75 million

PS. This message has been written for notification purposes. I will update this information on a part 18 of this topic which contains that very big amount of ratings from the years of 1992-2006 up from this particular notification message.

After a few days of searching, I managed to find out most of the ratings for the Nigel Mansell's Indycar on ITV programme which was seen during the years of 1993-1994.

Excluded from these years ratings are the introduction and outroduction broadcast of these programmes which were the seasons preview and review broadcasts and also because their respective ratings sadly couldn't be found.

Sadly there weren't also any ratings for the following race programmes from the Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 93' because for some odd reason most of the UK magazines didn't released any information about ratings during the period of May 1993-July 1993 for their early dates at most:

77th Indianapolis 500 or as the 1993 Indianapolis 500 (Which was held at 30.5.1993, but shown in 5.6.1993.)

Miller Genuine Draft 200 or 1993 Milwaukee Mile (Which was held at 6.6.1993, but shown in 12.6.1993.)

ITT Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit or 1993 Belle Isle Park Raceway Grand Prix (Which was held at 13.6.1993, but shown in 19.6.1993.)

Any ratings information for these broadcasts and also for the 1993 Monaco Grand Prix and 1993 Canadian Grand Prix are very much appreciated!

However, here are the rest of the broadcast and ratings for the Nigel Mansell's Indycar on ITV or better known as Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 93' even though the broadcast times starts knowingly only from at Portland race and then from beyond at rest of the season races:

Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 93' ITV Ratings for a possible comparison for F1 Ratings on BBC in 1993

Australian FAI Indycar Grand Prix or 1993 Surfer's Paradise Street Circuit Grand Prix (Which was held at 21.3.1993, but shown in 27.3.1993.) 4,375 million viewers

Valvoline 200 or 1993 Phoenix International Raceway Grand Prix (Which was held at 4.4.1993, but shown in 10.4.1993.) 3,665 million viewers

Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach or 1993 Streets of Long Beach Grand Prix (Which was held at 18.4.1993, but shown in 24.4.1993.) 4,35 million viewers

Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 or 1993 Portland International Raceway Grand Prix 3.7.1993 ITV 13.10-13.40 o' clock (Race was held at 27.6.1993 and this is sole exception on UK magazines at motor race TV viewing figures which I were able to find out during that very troublesome period of May 1993-very early July of 1993 period.) 3,19 million viewers

PS. I'll try to locate those missing 1993 race ratings and if I'm not able to find them, then I will put those 1994 Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 94' ratings by tomorrow at earliest and otherwise after 2-3 more days after I have confirmed the last few unsure ratings of them. Unlike for the 1993 season, these ratings are from the complete season of programmes.

Our Nige's run to the CART title in 1993 was a big deal. By 1992/93, Mansell was very much a household name and had attracted people to viewing on TV and attending races who wouldn't have done so in the late 80s....witness the track invasion at Silverstone in 1992 for example. Mansell Mania, they called it. Those ITV figures could well be accurate.

No, they were definitely overnights in the same strand as “Cinema Cinema Cinema”, “WCW Worldwide” and other late night gems

Looking at the schedule for Indycar this year, the latest start is 8pm est, which is 1am in the UK. Most races start earlier giving mid to late evening starts.
Indy starts about 5pm in the UK, so generally the races are at good times to pickup UK viewers . Especially when there was great interest in what Mansell did, and the races were not behind a paywall.

Sadly after quite a fast confirmation search for verifying those missing Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 94' programmes and their respective ratings I wasn't able to find those missing Indycar races for Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 93' programme.

The whole 16 race season programme average in 1993 for ITV weren't also found.

Even though there were rumours about it having a nigh under of 5 million viewers to anywhere about between of F1 1992 season respective ratings, meaning 5,1 million viewers and of F1 1996 season respective ratings which had 5,3 million viewers.

That means approximately 5,2 million viewers for a complete season of 16 Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 93' programmes, if it could be verified to be true.

Even if it didn't have that much viewers, it was still mentioned to have about a one million more viewers than F1 races on BBC during the year of 1993 for their complete 16 race season.

Even though also quite a many 1993 F1 races is still missing, those races were simply not followed during that year or so it most strongly seems to be so rather than Indycar.

Because of Mansell Mania that is most likely.

However, I still managed to find those Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 94' programmes and their respective ratings for a whole 16 race season so I'll post them on the next message.

If I remember rightly ITV used to show the Indy highlights early afternoon on a Saturday (when Mansell was involved). Thankfully it was the programme that got me into motorsport back in the early 90's.

Ratings for the Nigel Mansell's Indycar on ITV for 1994 PPG Indycar World Series Season have been found and verified so these will come in this message.

Excluded from these ratings are the introduction and outroduction broadcast of these programmes which were the seasons preview and review broadcasts and also because their respective ratings sadly couldn't be found. Introduction broadcast for Nigel Mansell's Indycar on ITV was seen as a season preview in 19.3.1994 on ITV at 13.40-14.10 o' clock and outroduction broadcast and also acting as a final broadcast ever for Nigel Mansell's Indycar on ITV was seen as a season review in 22.10.1994 on ITV at 13.40-14.10 o' clock.

However, here are the rest of the broadcast and ratings for the Nigel Mansell's Indycar on ITV or better known as Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 94' with their broadcast times as well:

Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 94' ITV Ratings for a possible comparison for F1 Ratings on BBC in 1994

Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach or 1994 Streets of Long Beach Grand Prix 23.4.1994 ITV 14.10-14.40 o' clock (Race was held at 17.4.1994.) 8,1 million viewers

78th Indianapolis 500 or as the 1994 Indianapolis 500 4.6.1994 ITV 14.10-14.40 o' clock (Race was held at 29.5.1994.) 7,4 million viewers

Miller Genuine Draft 200 or 1994 Milwaukee Mile 12.6.1994 ITV 15-15.30 o' clock (Race was held at 5.6.1994, but this race's particular programme was shown exceptionally in Sunday rather than the normal Saturday broadcast date week after the race.) 3 million viewers

Out of interest, what's the source for the Indy Car viewing figures? Considering the highest F1 audience figures in this country is 8.8 million, some of those Indy Car figures look dubious at best, but happy to be proven wrong.

The most tainted thing about this immense research is that you can't truly draw comparisons of today's decline because of modern variables. How many millions are watching on unofficial streams / false YouTube broadcasts and not accounted for? I think there are as many unregulated viewers as their are registered especially so for the under 30 age group. This was only possible from the late 00s. Then you have endless social media highlights, captures etc. I think I've seen more web clips, crash analysis videos, interviews and preview things than full races in recent seasons.

When searching those Nigel Mansell' Indycar Year viewing figures from the years of 1993-1994 and from ITV I also managed to find out few BTCC Racing or also known as TOCA Touring Cars Racing season races and their respective ratings.

Even though those BTCC/TOCA or TOCA/BTCC race ratings are from the years of 1996-1997.

I will do comparison for them to some F1 races from the same period, if they do match for their broadcast dates and will not, if they don't.

1996 Knockhill Racing Circuit BTCC/TOCA Fife Grand Prix or Knockhill Racing Circuit TOCA/BTCC Fife Grand Prix: 2,58 million BBC1 (It has to be noted that BTCC/TOCA Fife Grand Prix or TOCA/BTCC Fife Grand Prix was shown on BBC two weeks after the actual race. On the same day Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying was shown on BBC2, but I sadly don't have those ratings for them even though it seems to be that Touring Cars, as an exception, fared better than F1 according to several other sources unless being said or proven otherwise.)

1998 Brands Hatch Circuit BTCC/TOCA Second Kent Grand Prix or Brands Hatch Circuit TOCA/BTCC Second Kent Grand Prix: 2,08 million BBC2 (This race was seen either as a surprise live coverage on it's supposed race day in BBC2 and as a very sensational Monday Race right after or interrupting Cricket Match from it's another Test Runs, but otherwise it was seen as a highlights on BBC2 6 days later and once again in a week with no F1 to compete with. Only possible reason even to consider about Monday Race Live Broadcast could have been only because of the supposed and eventually real showing of the Nigel Mansell's TOCA guest appearence. If it really was on Monday as a surprise live coverage, then Test Runs were resumed right after any urgent delays like Mr. Mansell's comments for also right after the race. I'm not really sure about this in the moment.)

After some searching for the 1995 Monaco Grand Prix ratings for BBC there was also a discovery for a possible confirmation for the long lost 1993 Canadian Grand Prix and it's prospective ratings.

And if there wasn't, at least it was said that 1993 Canadian Grand Prix had less than 3,39 million viewers on BBC2 and it wasn't never higher than 7th place for Top 30 programmes list.

As for now I'm considering to change status of that particular race from it's lingering question mark, but I will wait for a couple of days for either a better source or a better another confirmation for that race to be updated for.

However, 1995 Monaco Grand Prix and 1995 Spanish Grand Prix are interesting as for what comes to their ratings.

They both were broadcasted in BBC2.

For example, 1995 Spanish Grand Prix had 3,51 million viewers of course.

Still it was said to also have as high ratings as of a 4,46 million viewers, but hence for this day since I first found that Grand Prix years ago I always thought it's rather just a peak number of viewers and nothing more.

As of now, I'm not that sure anymore.

Unless there has been a major mix-up of a ratings back then what comes to BARB?

I would base this point of view for a 28.5.1995 Top 30 Programmes list for BBC2 when Monaco Grand Prix was being held and then it was leaved outside of the Top 30 Programmes lists at least for my acquired sources.

Interestingly Monaco Grand Prix was said to have a less than 3,65 million viewers.

For comparison, 1995 Spanish Grand Prix always made it for it's race date Top 30 Programmes list for BBC2 either as it's own integrated programme or labelled as Motor Racing from Spain nevertheless and it also at best, was the 2nd most watched programme which is immense when comparing that for Monaco and even with it's lowest rating it made it when as Monaco didn't.

Also, to put a cherry on top of the cake, it seems to be case and it was also said that Monaco Grand Prix had at least 3,51 million viewers which could make sense and speak up for the possible mix-up incident.

However, unless really refering to it's possible spike of viewers, I really think that 1995 Monaco Grand Prix never didn't have that approximate number of viewers of 4,46 million.

That would've came of as a utter bollocks talk.

And also could have easily made it to the BARB Top 30 Programmes list for BBC2 on that fateful day of 28.5.1995.

Even though there was many other highly rated sport events for that day back then.

As for now, I will wait for a couple of days before I'll put those ratings for their own respective places and replacing those lingering question marks or at least provide some information for their current, especially maybe a very radical change for the 1995 Spanish Grand Prix ratings.

I will appreciate any helpful sources for to come by and over for this interesting new problem.

After another few days of searching, I managed to find out complete ratings for the Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 93' on ITV. It was a programme which was seen during the years of 1993-1994 with it's name been slightly modified to Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 94' for the year of 1994 in the following year.

Excluded from these years ratings are the introduction and outroduction broadcast of these programmes which were the seasons preview and review broadcasts and also because their respective ratings sadly couldn't be found either of those years mentioned.

Also introduction and outroduction broadcast timetable for Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 93' programmes are missing as of now.

Sadly broadcast information or ratings also couldn't be found for 1993 Monaco Grand Prix or 1993 Canadian Grand Prix.

Any ratings information for the 1993 Monaco Grand Prix and 1993 Canadian Grand Prix for their accurate ratings are very much appreciated!

However, here are the complete broadcast times and ratings for the Nigel Mansell's Indycar on ITV or better known as Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 93':

Nigel Mansell's Indycar Year 93' ITV Ratings for a possible comparison for F1 Ratings on BBC in 1993

After a little while and thinking about some of discoveries recently, I have decided to update some ratings from the years of 1993-1995 what comes to about British F1 TV Ratings and more precisely, BBC ratings.

Question marks will remain, but there are some ratings for some races and not just question marks any longer after this.

Most of the updates will be made for 1993 Monaco Grand Prix, 1993 Canadian Grand Prix, 1995 Spanish Grand Prix and 1995 Monaco Grand Prix with at least a mention for a 1995 Hungarian Grand Prix as well.

Most recent discovery could have been the real race ratings for 1993 Belgian Grand Prix.

That race has been really hard to track down properly and it also has a curious twist for it.

I will talk about that matter soon.

Also there will be some updates for Japanese Grand Prix and Australian Grand Prix with a few possible mentions for 1995 Pacific Grand Prix because I think that I have possibly made a mistake back then. Updates about Japanese Grand Prix and Australian Grand Prix for the years of 1994-1995 even though these updates will only be just a possible Combined Ratings and not their accurate ratings.

I will put them up immediately.

PS. This message has been written for notification purposes. I will update this information on a part 18 of this topic which contains that very big amount of ratings from the years of 1992-2006 up from this particular notification message.

Even though there is still quite of a many UK Ratings missing or unsure from the years of 1992-2006, I have thinking about to start comparing BBC or ITV ones with Italian ones because I also do have quite a many historical race ratings and also from the recent season as well.

Even though I have to sort them before I actually will send them.

Oldest of them are from the year of 1991 and full season ratings starts from the seasons of 1996-1998.

RAI was a broadcaster and broadcasts in Italy was a shared business in the years of 1991-1995 and in 1996 possibly TV Italia had those broadcast rights for a one year before full RAI return.

Those full season ratings starting from those years are depending on for their few unsure ratings, but I will put them up soon.